Notes on Glaucocharis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from China, with descriptions of two new species

ZooKeys 807: 149-I 58 (20 | 8) A peer-rev iewed open-access journal I
doi: 10.3897/zookeys.807.29237 RESEARCH ARTICLE #ZooKey

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Notes on Glaucocharis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from
China, with descriptions of two new species

Wei-Chun Li!

I College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, 330045, China

Corresponding author: Wei-Chun Li (weichunlee@126.com)

Academic editor: B. Landry | Received 21 August 2018 | Accepted 2 November 2018 | Published 17 December 2018
http://zoobank.org/AEABBEOC-D626-422E-9D7F-919E29635F2F

Citation: Li W-C (2018) Notes on Glaucocharis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from China, with descriptions of two new
species. ZooKeys 807: 149-158. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.807.29237

Abstract

Two new species belonging to the genus Glaucocharis Meyrick, 1938 are described from southwest China:
Glaucocharis sperlingi sp. n. and G. nussi sp. n. The female of G. castaneus Song & Chen, 2002 is described
for the first time. The geographical distribution of the genus in China is analysed. The precipitation of
the warmest quarter is revealed to be the strongest predictor affecting the present distribution pattern of

the genus. A map showing the distribution of the known Chinese localities of Glaucocharis is provided.

Keywords

Pyraloidea, Crambinae, taxonomy, geographical distribution, China

Introduction

The genus Glaucocharis, one of the most species-rich genera of the subfamily Crambi-
nae (Lepidoptera, Crambidae), was established by Meyrick (1938) with Glaucocharis
stella Meyrick, 1938 as the type species. To date, the genus has 153 described species
worldwide (Nuss et al. 2018). The main taxonomic contributions concerned the faunas
of the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions (Bleszynski 1965; Gaskin 1974b; Wang and
Song 1983; Ganev 1987; Wang et al. 1988; Song 1993; Chen et al. 2001, 2002, 2003;
Sasaki 2007; Li and Li 2012; Park et al. 2018), followed by the Australian Region
(Gaskin 1971, 1974a, 1974b, 1985) and the Ethiopian Region (Bleszynski 1966, 1970;
Bassi and Mey in Mey 2011). In China, the first specimen of Glaucocharis was recorded
as early as 1932 from Tianmushan, Zhejiang Province (Bleszynski 1965), and a total
of sixty species have been recorded in the country prior to this study (Li and Li 2012).

Copyright Wei-Chun Li. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0),
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

150 Wei-Chun Li / ZooKeys 807: 149-158 (2018)

Among them, forty-nine species have China as the type locality (Suppl. material 1: Ta-
ble S1). To date, all known localities of Chinese Glaucocharis clearly indicate a mostly
eastern distribution, but this geographical pattern was never previously mentioned.

Morphologically, the members of the genus can be recognized by characters of the
forewing: the apex usually with an apical mark, the termen below the apex with an
indentation reaching the tip of M, and well-developed marginal spots. In the wing
pattern, Glaucocharis is similar to Roxita Bleszynski, but can be distinguished by the
forewing with a well-developed M, and the valva without a ventral fold in the male
genitalia; in Roxita, M, in the forewing is absent and the ventral fold of the valva is
often present (Li and Li 2012). Several species groups have been proposed based on
external characters and genitalic structures within Glaucocharis by Gaskin (1985) and
Wang et al. (1988). However, it is relatively difficult to assign some ambiguous mem-
bers to any proposed group on morphological characters alone. There is a need for a
more insightful classification of species groups in this large genus based on an integra-
tive approach using molecular data and morphological characters.

In the present paper, two species of Glaucocharis are described from the Mabian
Dafengding National Nature Reserve, southwest of China. The geographical pattern of
distribution presented by the genus in China is also commented upon.

Material and methods

All specimens were collected at night with a mercury-vapour lamp. The specimens were
hand-collected alive and killed by ammonium hydroxide just prior to mounting and spread-
ing as shown in Landry and Landry (1994). The terminology for morphological structures
follows Bleszynski (1965) and Gaskin (1985). Photographs of adults were taken with a
Zeiss AxioCam Icc 5 digital camera attached to a Zeiss SteREO Discovery V12 micro-
scope. Illustrations of the genitalia were prepared with a DV320 OPTPro2010-Chs digital
camera attached to an Optec BK-DM320 microscope. All specimens examined are depos-
ited in the Insect Museum, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China (JXAUM).
The distribution of Glaucocharis was analysed using MaxEnt (Phillips et al. 2006)
and was based on distributional data extracted from previous studies (Bleszynski 1965;
Wang and Song 1983; Wang et al. 1988; Song 1993; Chen et al. 2001, 2002, 2003; Li
and Li 2012), the specimens examined in this study (Suppl. material 1: Table $1), and
twenty environmental variables (Suppl. material 1: Table S2). Geographic coordinates
were taken from Wu et al. (1997) and converted into decimal coordinates (Suppl.
material 1: Table $1). MaxEnt was set with 10 000 as the maximum number of back-
ground points. Ihe model’s goodness-of-fit and the relative importance of each of the
variables were evaluated by area under the receiving operator curve and the jackknife
procedure, respectively. Climatic data were retrieved from the WorldClim database
(http://www.worldclim.org) at a resolution of 10 arc-min (Hijmans et al. 2004). The
cartographic illustration was created using dismo R package (Hijmans and Elith 2017).

Notes on Glaucocharis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from China... 15%

Taxonomic account

Glaucocharis sperlingi sp. n.
http://zoobank.org/AF440590-1E0A-4AD5-B7ED-AA21C1C75C58
Figs 1, 2..7

Type material. Holotype 4: CHINA: Mabian Dafengding National Nature Reserve,
Mabian (28°51'N, 103°31'E), Sichuan Province, 1100 m, 12.viii.2012, coll. Wei-
Chun Li, prep. gen, WD16102 (JKAUM).

Paratype, 1 3, with same locality as holotype and collected on 10.viii.2012 (JXAUM).

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to Glaucocharis electra (Bleszynski) by hav-
ing slender uncus and gnathos, and thin and long valva in the male genitalia. It can be
distinguished by the basal process of the costa of the valva with two projections, the
juxta ending with three spine-like projections, and the phallus with a line of tiny spine-
like cornuti in the male genitalia (Fig. 7). In G. electra, the costa of the valva only has
a single projection, the juxta is concave distally, and the phallus has only one cornutus
(Bleszynski 1965: pl. 32 fig. 4).

Description. Male adult (Figs 1, 2): Forewing length 5.5—6.0 mm. Frons and ver-
tex pale brown. Labial palpus pale yellow on outer side except for brown base and tip,
white ventrally. Maxillary palpus pale brown, white distally. Antenna pale brown and
yellowish white in alternance on dorsal surface, pale yellow ventrally. Tegula and thorax
white mixed with pale brown. Forewing white, sparsely covered with pale brown scales;
antemedian line pale brown, straight except curved inward near costa; reniform stigma
pale brown, small and ovate; postmedian line pale brown, arched outward; apex pale
yellow, with white apical stripe; termen pale brown, with two black marginal spots;
fringe pale brown mixed with white. Hindwing white, covered with pale brown scales
along apex; fringe concolourous with forewing. Abdomen brown and white in altern-
ance on dorsal surface. Legs white.

Male genitalia (Fig. 7): Uncus slightly concave at two-thirds, tapering to pointed
apex. Gnathos curved upward slightly, apex with triangular projection and small spine
on dorsal and ventral margin, respectively. Tegumen approximately as long as gnathos.
Valva broad basally, narrowed towards blunt apex; ventral margin indented at about
three-fourths; costa with adjacent triangular and spine-like projections at base. Saccus
well-developed, gently narrowed towards distal tip. Juxta anteriorly convex, slightly
broadened in basal one-third, then narrowed towards tip, ending with three spine-like
projections. Phallus slightly shorter than valva; tiny cornuti spine-like, placed in one line.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Sichuan).

Natural history. Unknown except that the moths are in flight in early August and
come to light. The habitat in which this species has been collected is located at 1100
m altitude, at the foot of the mountain. Most parts of the mountain are covered with
trees belonging to families Lauraceae and Fagaceae (Fig. 10).

152 Wei-Chun Li / ZooKeys 807: 149-158 (2018)

2.5 mm

Figures 1-6. Glaucocharis spp. |, 3,5 Adult in dorsal view 2, 4, 6 Head in lateral view I, 2 G. sperlingi
sp. n., male, holotype 3, 4 G. nussi sp. n., male, holotype 5, 6 G. castaneus Song & Chen, female.

Etymology. In honour of Professor Felix Sperling of the University of Alberta,
Canada, who contributed profoundly to systematic research in entomology, and who
maintains long-standing achievements as curator of the E. H. Strickland Entomologi-
cal Museum (http://www.entomology.museums.ualberta.ca).

Glaucocharis nussi sp. n.
http://zoobank.org/ODAES5EE5-442C-4B77-B86A-486B68E7F89A
Figs 3, 4, 8

Type material. Holotype ¢: CHINA: Mabian Dafengding National Nature Reserve,
Mabian (28°51'N, 103°31'E), Sichuan Province, 1100 m, 11.viii.2012, coll. Wei-
Chun Li (IXAUM).

Notes on Glaucocharis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from China... lists)

Figures 7-9. Genitalia of Glaucocharis species. 7 G. sperlingi sp. n., male, holotype 8 G. nussi sp. n.,
male, holotype 9 G. castaneus Song & Chen, female.

Paratype, 1 3, with same locality as holotype and collected on 10.viii.2012, prep.
gen. WD16100 (JXAUM).

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished from its congeners by the unique
characters in the male genitalia. The costal projection is absent and the phallus has a
single strong spine-like cornutus (Fig. 8).

Description. Male adult (Figs 3, 4): Forewing length 5.5-6.0 mm. Frons and
vertex pale brown mixed with yellowish white. Labial palpus basal half and distal
one-fourth blackish brown on outer side, otherwise yellowish white. Maxillary palpus
pale brown, yellowish white distally. Antenna yellowish white. Tegula and thorax pale
brown. Forewing covered with pale brown scales; costa and dorsum with blackish spot
near middle; antemedian line unrecognized; reniform stigma blackish brown, small
and round; postmedian line brown, arched outward; apex orange, with white apical

154 Wei-Chun Li / ZooKeys 807: 149-158 (2018)

stripe; termen orange mixed with pale brown, with four black marginal spots; fringe
pale brown. Hindwing pale brown; fringe white mixed with grey. Abdomen blackish
brown and white in alternance on dorsal surface. Legs pale brown.

Male genitalia (Fig. 8): Uncus curved downward, tapering to pointed apex. Gna-
thos nearly narrowly triangular, pointed distally. Tegumen approximately twice as long
as gnathos. Valva broadened slightly at base, apex round; costa concave near middle.
Saccus short and broad, convex distally. Juxta crescent-shaped. Phallus nearly as long
as valva, basal one-third conspicuously thicker than distal two-thirds; single cornutus
well-developed and spine-like.

Female unknown.

Distribution. China (Sichuan).

Natural history. See above under this heading for Glaucocharis sperlingi sp. nov.

Etymology. In honour of Dr Matthias Nuss, who contributed profoundly to system-
atic research on pyraloid moths, and who maintains and expands the most important tool
for taxonomic information on the world pyraloid species: GlobIZ (www.pyraloidea.org).

Remarks. The generic assignment of G. nussi is primarily based on the external
characters. However, its male genitalia are atypical for Glaucocharis. Characters of both
sexes and molecular data would have to be analysed phylogenetically to provide a more
insightful hypothesis concerning its classification.

Glaucocharis castaneus Song & Chen, 2002
Figs 5, 6, 9

Glaucocharis castaneus Song & Chen, in Chen et al. 2002: 1, figs 1-3. Type locality:
Maoershan, Guangxi Province, China.

Specimens examined. 23 3, 12 9 9: CHINA: Mabian Dafengding National Nature
Reserve, Mabian (28°51'N, 103°31'E), Sichuan Province, 1100 m, 9-10.viii.2012,
coll. Wei-Chun Li ((XAUM).

Description. Female adult (Figs 5, 6): Forewing length 6.5-8.0 mm. Frons and
vertex pale yellow. Labial palpus blackish-brown except second segment pale yellow.
Maxillary palpus pale brown to blackish brown, pale yellow distally. Antenna blackish
brown and pale yellow in alternance on dorsal surface, pale yellow ventrally. Tegula and
thorax blackish brown. Forewing densely covered with blackish brown scales; anteme-
dian line black, dorsal two-thirds inconspicuous; reniform stigma unrecognized; post-
median line blackish brown, arched outward; apex orange, with white apical stripe;
termen orange mixed with pale brown, with two black marginal spots; fringe blackish
brown. Hindwing blackish brown; fringe pale brown except blackish brown subbasally.
Abdomen blackish brown on dorsal surface. Legs pale brown.

Female genitalia (Fig. 9): Papillae anales ovate, about one-third length of posterior
apophyses. Tergite eight about two-thirds as long as anterior apophyses. Lamella post-
vaginalis roughly U-shaped. Antrum swollen and densely covered with small spines.

Notes on Glaucocharis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from China... fh

serve, Sichuan Province, China).

Ductus bursae long and thin. Ductus seminalis arising from approximately posterior
one-third of ductus bursae. Corpus bursae rounded; signa double and ovate.
Distribution. China (Guangxi, Sichuan).
Remarks. The female of G. castaneus is described for the first time herein. The male
of this species was described and figured adequately by Chen et al. (2002).

The geographical distribution of Glaucocharis in China

The geographical distribution of Chinese Glaucocharis was analysed using MaxEnt
based on the known localities (Suppl. material 1: Table S1) and twenty environmental
variables (Suppl. material 1: Table S2). The results clearly indicate that the precipita-
tion of the warmest quarter (Biol18) was the strongest predictor of the geographical dis-
tribution of the genus in China, and the mean diurnal range (Bio2, mean of monthly
maximum and minimum temperatures) and the minimum temperature of the coldest
month (BioG) were revealed to be the second and third most important factors respec-
tively in the environmental variables (Suppl. material 1: Table S2).

At present, all Glaucocharis species in China occur in humid—semi-humid areas
(pale blue to green), which can be separated from arid—semi-arid areas (dark blue) in

156 Wei-Chun Li / ZooKeys 807: 149-158 (2018)

50
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oon7roahwhd—

40
a ae O@e
os 8 8 §
ao oc 2 &
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30

20

70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140

Figure | 1. Geographical distribution of Glaucocharis in China and precipitation of the warmest quarter

(Bio18). Circles indicate surveyed sites and numbers of species per site. Rainbow bar: precipitation (mm).

western China by using the climate data Biol8 (Fig. 11). Furthermore, based on all
Glaucocharis species catalogued in China (Suppl. material 1: Table S1), most members
of the genus occur south of 32°N (southern China) where the minimum temperature
of the coldest month is above 0 °C. The precipitation and temperature have higher
explanatory power for the occurrence of the genus in China in accordance with the
analysis of MaxEnt. ‘The available data suggest that precipitation limits the dispersal of
known species. Meanwhile, temperature could have a significant influence on the ex-
ceptionally high species diversity of the genus in southern China. However, the species
diversity pattern of Glaucocharis detected here does not precisely reflect the latitudinal
gradient inasmuch as the unique species diversity between 25°N and 32°N is much
higher than in the other areas, and many distribution gaps are found between the
known localities (Fig. 11). In further research, it would be essential to explore more
precisely the biotic and abiotic requirements for individual Glaucocharis species as well
as to describe the largely unstudied diversity of the genus in eastern China.

Acknowledgments

I extend my cordial thanks to Dr Jurate De Prins for her kind support during my study
in the insect collection of the Natural History Museum, London. I am greatly apprecia-
tive of Dr Bernard Landry (Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Switzerland) for his help to

Notes on Glaucocharis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from China... 157

improve the manuscript throughout. Special thanks are given to the two anonymous
reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions on the manuscript. This project
was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31601885).

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Supplementary material |

Supplementary tables

Authors: Wei-Chun Li

Data type: species data

Explanation note: Table $1. Overview of Chinese localities where Glaucocharis species
have been collected (administrative divisions are given in bold) with geographical
coordinates in the decimal system; Table $2. Environmental variables used in the
study and their contribution percentage and permutation importance.

Copyright notice: This dataset is made available under the Open Database License
(http://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/1.0/). The Open Database License
(ODDbL) is a license agreement intended to allow users to freely share, modify, and
use this Dataset while maintaining this same freedom for others, provided that the
original source and author(s) are credited.

Link: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.807.29237.suppl1